Talk of trades takes its toll on the players

St Kilda midfielder

Nick Dal Santo (right) hugs his captain and teammate, Nick Riewoldt, after the pair played their 250th games last month. Photo: Getty Images

"Are you getting traded?'' It's a question I've been asked frequently in the past couple of weeks. Be it via social media or in a cafe while waiting to get a coffee, there is no getting around the public chatter of Melburnians and footy fans across Australia.

Lunchtime talk among the boys is often full of stories and rumours about other clubs and their players. Most of it is entertaining, but often more fiction than anything else. I've never entertained the idea of leaving the Saints.

You think of past horror trade stories such as guys coming out of surgery to discover they now play for a team on the other side of Australia; it’s only natural with this speculation that I have moments of wondering what this all means for me.

I joined as a 17-year-old and have spent 12 seasons there. I love the club, but more than that, I love the people involved in the club, especially the boys. I assume most players who have changed clubs have had moments of uncertainty and questioned whether they had made the right decision. It can't be easy, after building a reputation, respect and friendships.

Early in my football career, I was getting games as a very young player. St Kilda's ''era'' was finishing, and my development was being pushed, with the likes of Nathan Burke, Stewart Loewe and Robert Harvey mentoring me and teaching me how to respect the St Kilda Football Club and AFL in general. Back then, I thought it would last forever, I never imagined it would be me that was faced with ''building for the future''.

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Workplaces are ever changing as they try to stay ahead and maintain a competitive advantage, and that is also the case in the AFL. One recent evolution is witnessing mates that I have played with for years make the choice between being a one-club player or pursuing opportunity for career and professional development elsewhere. This is a shift across the league, exacerbated by new free-agency rules. Watching this unfold has given me an understanding of the public deliberation about my career.

I mentioned that we talk about other clubs and players from other clubs, but we never talk about our own teammates. Even with Brendon Goddard, we heard about the talk, but we would never discuss it around the club because he was one of us and you never want anyone to leave. We knew BJ so well and respected him, we didn't want to ask him or talk about him.

It was confronting when he left, the same with Luke Ball and Ross Lyon, because I don't think any of us really thought it would actually happen. But BJ did go, and with our blessing, because we understood why. It also gave us a greater understanding of the new world of free agency. The players wanted it, so we have to deal with it and embrace it. And as BJ starts to have success at Essendon, it makes it even easier to understand how the process can work for the player.

The questions raised, such as ''when will you win a premiership?'' and ''can you help the club move forward?'' or ''would it be better for both parties to part ways?'' all contribute to the feeling of being uncomfortable.

Roles, strategies and expectations change through a player's career. I am passionate about giving back to the game and the club that has given me so much, and believe I have more to contribute. So how does it affect the person in the middle of the talk?

I still prepare my body and mind the same for each game as I have for the majority of my career. But away from the club it has to take a toll. All the radio talkback and media commentary would eventually make anyone question their value to the club.

You think of past horror trade stories such as guys coming out of surgery to discover they now play for a team on the other side of Australia; it's only natural with this speculation that I have moments of wondering what this means for me.

What starts as an off-the-cuff comment about a player's performance and career quickly does the rounds and almost becomes gospel. I have learnt that I can't control other people's thoughts or what they say. I can't even control the reaction from this article and the speculation that me talking about trades may cause. But I hope by reading it you will understand a little more of what it is like to be the subject of speculation.

I am not alone in this media and public talk. I'm not the first and I most definitely won't be the last. Players understand that with the media attention and public interest in football someone is always going to be spoken about.

It is my turn. Next month it will be someone else's. At the end of the day, the club is an organisation and needs to do what is best for it. But it is becoming more apparent that so does the player. My heart and dedication is solely focused on this weekend's game and making our club respected and successful.

25 comments so far

I hope Nick Dal Santo plays 350 or 400 games for the Saints. I have added respect for players who stay loyal to one club throughout their entire career.

Commenter

Henry

Location

Sydney

Date and time

July 23, 2013, 12:51PM

Noooo...

He should come play for us, the saints can have lots left of Buddy Franklin....

Commenter

Alastair Clarksonsonson

Date and time

July 23, 2013, 3:03PM

Henry, he's talking about being traded in which event he would have no say. I'm sure Nicky Dal would love to stay a Saint and I hope the club keeps him.

Commenter

Catherine

Date and time

July 25, 2013, 8:41AM

He is desperate to stay a Saint because his form and age ensures that there wont be any takers at a different club (other than GWS - good luck with that one). Another year at the Saints on a reduced wage is all that is in store for you Nikky Dal. You have been a good servant to the game and the club and we understand why you are desperate to stay!

Commenter

TomTomKat

Date and time

July 23, 2013, 1:09PM

Yep I totally agree, Nick in his day was a fantastic footballer one of the best, his form suggests that he is past his best and not applying himself the way he once did. Think about this G.Ablett Jnr is the same age and training and playing like a 25 year old and playing with passion the same way Dal Santo once did and they are the same age and Dal Santo looks disinterested. I can remember an Ablett interview with Mick Fanning with Ablett posing the question to Fanning - what keeps you interested and motivated to keep achieving at the highest level when you have already reached the pinnacle of your sport, simply put Fanning said that looking for news ways to motivate yourself with new challenges and to go the extra distance was key, and for Ablett moving to the Gold Coast has galvanized him and in many ways if possible made him a better footballer. Im sure just like Goddard, Dal Santo needs a challenge other than playing at the same club for the remainder of his career. Im sure Gold Coast or GWS could do with his flair and skill set and could bring alot to the table.

Commenter

Geoff

Date and time

July 23, 2013, 3:25PM

I hope that the Nick Dal Santo does remain at the Saints I am 60 years old and I have been following the Saints and by that I mean actually going to the matches my whole life I do not believe that the club can afford to let someone of the calibre of Dal Santo go as they have Ball and Goddard. He is needed not only for what he produces on the field and he is still playing among our best players but also you will not develop your younger players with no role models for them to look to. I often wonder where some of these so called supporters come from the moment that a club goes through difficult times they offer nothing constructive but only attack the players and the club that they supposedly support. Take it from someone my age if when the club is going through a rebuilding stage they don't need so called supporters like these people with longer memories have been through much harder periods than these and we are still there supporting our Saints.

Commenter

Tevi

Date and time

July 24, 2013, 10:55AM

as Henry said it's so much more impressive to see a player staying loyal and working hard for a goal beyond the financial side. as a tigers supporter, watching Richo has been a similar story. it carries a level of credibility that will be remembered once the playing years are past.

Commenter

sun

Date and time

July 23, 2013, 1:15PM

Richo is one of the lucky few who was able to walk into a high paying career in the media once his playing days were over. I suspect Nick Dal Santo fancies himself to do the same thing, and probably will. So good for them - they get to be a one club player, earn the admiration of the likes of Henry and Sun, and continue to earn good coin into their late thirties, forties and (maybe) beyond. What about the other 99% of players that may not have the ability to do this. They give the best years of their life to a career that forces them to retire in their early thirties, and you expect them to deny themselves the best deal financially for the sake of making traditionalists like yourself happy. Of course they should be making hay while the sun shines! Your expectations may have had a place a few decades ago, but these days they are purely selfish.

Commenter

Bill

Location

Melb

Date and time

July 23, 2013, 2:21PM

With Greg Westaway in charge making dumb decisions anything is possible. When he took over as President they were a power side, now they are languishing at the bottom. Great effort there, Greg! And why would you offer an extension to Scott Watters now, for goodness sake??? Nobody is going to poach him.

Commenter

Steven

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

July 23, 2013, 1:21PM

Yep Greg has to go.I've stopped counting the number of goals he's missed from 20 meters out since he came to the club,won't defend and gives away needless free kicks.We need a playing President at least 198 cm who can play at either end like all the other great teams have.